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I "Building Communicative Bridges . y ?,r '
I Pembroke, n.c. In A Cri-Jtacial getting" ' robeson county ?f
: LREMC MEMBERSHIP DEFEATS
TWO INCUMBENTS
RONALD HAMMONDS
JAMES H. DIAL*
LACY L. CUMVMNGS
f ormer Board cnairman ward ciarx, jr. was ousted as
a director at the 48th annual membership meeting of
Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation. Clark
was defeated by newcomer James H. Dial of Route 1,
Maxton. In District 6, incumbent Alton V. Dudley was
also ousted. He was replaced by John G.'' Tim" Elebee of
Raeford. Incumbents Ronald Hammonds of Route 8,
Lumber-ton and Lacy L Cummings of Route 1, Pembroke
were re-elected. Hammonds represents District 5 and
Cummings holds an at-large seat.
Following the voting, Gus Bullard was re-elected as
chairman and Timothy Strickland was elected secretary.
J.W. Hunt will remain as vice chairman.
During the business meeting the membership voted to
"bind the board to a list of costrcutting measures." These
measures include cutting directors' pay from $75 to $50 a
day for board meetins or conferences; the creation of a
finance committee to track the board's expenses; a limit*
on out of town travel; and the elmination of medical
insurance on former board members.
Diatric 1 includes the townships of Maxton, Alfords
ville, Thompson. Union and Rowland. James H. Dial
received 731 votes and Ward Clark, Jr. received 572.
In the at-large district Lacy L Cummin gs received 537
votes. Clifton Sampson, Jr. received 429. Etta B. Jones
received 153. Stephen Strickland received 83. Barbara C
Goins received 54. And Carl D. Stephens received 47.
District 6 includes all of Hoke County east of N.C. 211.
In that district John G. Elebee received 507 votes. Johnny
H. Boyles received 436. Incumbent Alton V. Dudley
received 235. And Renate Dahlin received 125.
District 5 includes Lumber Bridge, Parkton, St. Puals,
East and West Howellsville and Saddletree. Incumbent
Ronald Hammonds received 698 votes and James H.
Hammonds received 605.
j~J_m liongr
Announces
I,oca 2
CGLmjpsL 2 grn
I
.'rrsprrr?ii <
ftaletg/t- Insurance Commissioner
Jim Long has announced his Cam
paign Committee for Robeson Coun
ty. In making his announcement.
Long said he had been delinquent in
making the formal announcement
since many area individuals had been
"working hard for our re-election
since last spring."
Long's Robeson County Re
election Committee is chariged by
Vickie Cox Creech of Lumberton.
Serving with Ms. Creech are Horace
Loddear, Tom Jones and Charlie
Jamin. ?
Long said he was pleased to have
such outstanding individuals serve in
his re-election efforts.*
Long stated he "would be relying
heavily on these individuals and
other area supporters to get my name
opt to area voters." Long said he is
trying to balance campaigning with
the demands of an auto rate hearing,
saying "if you're not out campaigni
ng, people complain, and yet if I let
an insurance rate increase that is not
justified go into effect, everyone will
complain." ?
Long, who is opposed in his race
by Republican Pete Rednour, said
while he is optimistic, 'Tve been in
public life long enough to know that
you take nothing for granted. I have
had broad and bipartisan support,
and I aim on keeping it that way."
"I hope to continue the work we
have begun on making N.C. insuran
ce rates the lowest in the country, to
expand out Senior Citizens insurance
information program and to launch
an educational program young
people who will be facing their first
insutnace purchase decision."
Long, an attorney, served three
terms in the N.C. General Assembly
and serve ! as legislative counsel to
the Speaker of the General Assembly
before being elected Commissioner
in 1984.
WINS
Endorsement
. Ill* Merchants Political Action
Committee today endorsed Repre
sentative J.C. "Pete" Hasty. PAC
Treasurer, William C. Rustin, Jr.,
, said, "Pete Hasty1 a endorsement is a
result of his many years of support
for the small businessmin, especially
retail merchants across the stats."
"He understands the responafhfli
ties of creating jobs and meeting a
payroll. He has listened to our issues
and has supported retail concerns on
the floor of the House. We am proud
to support his return to the General
!.
I ndian
So I idarity
Meet i ngs
Indian Solidarity is an organiza
tion being proposed to create a
consitutional framework through
which Indians can institutionalize
decision making. Recent events have
pointed to the dire need for such an
organization.
Approximately three months ago a
constitutional committee was formed
to write a proposed constitution for
the concept. That has been comple
ted and an organizational committee
has been elected to hold meetings in
each precinct to obtain grassroots
review and inDUt into the final
development of the constitution.
Although the concept promotes non
partisanship, the committee will be
sharing the constitution beginning
with Commissioner District MHI and
will rotate with commissioner dis
tricts until the program is completed.
Meetings have been scheduled at the
following times, places and precin
cts:
South Pembroke, North Pembroke,
Smiths, Maxton-October20. Meeting
will begin at 7:30 p.m. South and
North Pembroke will meet in the
Pembroke Courthouse. Smiths Pre
cinct will meet in the Prospect Day
Care Center Community Building.
Maxton Precinct will meet in the
Maxton Court Room.
All Indian persons 18 years or
older or persons married to an Indian
who is 18 years old or older are
encouraged to attend these most
important meetings.
BRIEFS
ALUMNI ASSOC. TO MEET
The Pembroke Area Chapter of
the Pembroke State University
Alumni Association will meet on
Thursday, October 20, 1988 at 7:30
p.m. in the James B. Chavis
University Center at Pembroke State
University.
All Alumni are invited to come.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
Bryan Memorial School will
hold its Halloween Carnival on
October 28. Chicken and barbecue
plates will be sold between 11 a.m.
and 7 p.m. Carnival games will be
between 8 p.m. and 8 p.tt. Auction
wOl be at 8 p.m. '
For mors information call 788-8668
San v You
Rmad It.
In The
Carol I n an
I ndlan
Vole*
THE COACH'S
CORNER
WHL THE DODGERS' LUCK
HOLDUPf
'What's up, comes down and
what's down, comes up," that's the
difficulty the Dodgers are facing
tonight in their third world series
game. This phenomenon of regressi
on, a psychological happening comes
about when a team has reached such
a high plateau that there is no place
to go except down. Kirt Gibson's
home run in the bottom of the ninth
with two outs and the count of 3-2
ranks way above any story-book
ending in the history of sports. And
what pitcher has ever done what
Hershiser did with his three hits and
six to nothing win on Sunday night?
And a team like the Oakland "A"s
are truly a championship team. I just
can't see them losing again to the
miracles the Dodgers have pulled
off. Tom Lasorda, a true showman of
the highest order with his great smile
with the best of pasta, his congene
ality and his know-how of how to get
the best out of his players really faces
a tough task in winning over the
strong Oakland "A's". And I don't
think he can do it
Ken Johnson
CM U R CM
N EWS
HOMECOMING PLANNED
Prospect United Methodist
Church w'li have its Homecoraiiig
Sunday, October 23, 1988. Sunday
School service will begin at 9:30 a.m.
and Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker will be Rev. Johnnie Bull
ard, assistant pastor of Prospect
United Methodist Church.
Rev. Robert Man gum is pastor.
Everyone is cordially invited to
attend.
REVIVAL PLANNED
Prospect United Methodist
Church will hold its annual fall
revival starting Suni^y, October
23rd thru October 28th. Services will
begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday and 7:30
p.m. thereafter. Speakers will be
Rev. Robert Man (rum. pastor of the
church, and Mr. Dell Harris, Litur
gist at pospect UM Church.
Special music nightly. Everyone is
cordially invited to attend.
THE OPTIMISTIC CYNICS
BY KAREN CORONADO 8 WM. RICHARD MATHIS
THE TRIAL OF HATCHER AND JACOBS:
THE GOVERNMENT LOSES
Eddie Hatcher rises from the defense table where he
has been sitting alone, and somewhat awkwardly picks-up
a handful of papers and a cup of water.
"I've never done this before," he sheepishly mutters
on his way to deliver his closing argument to the jury
which will be deciding his destiny.
hi short, unrushed steps, he approaches the lectern in
front of the jury, only briefly stopping to place the cup of
water on the prosecution table. As he places the cup, he
appears neither anxious nor arrogant standing directly
before the man who has earlier tried to convince the jury
of his guilt
Although some people have come to believe Hatcher to
be somewhat of a grandstander, he approaches the jury
almost meekly yet without timidity.
Dressed in a leather vest and Indian breechcloth with
an eagle feather in the back of his shoulder length hair.
Hatcher is as solemn as the hardwood panels of the
courtroom and the black robe of the Judge.
Softly and calmly, he tells the jury that he would like to
present a closing argument written by William Kunstler,
the counselor of his choice.
Hatcher reads that Kunstler wrote the argument in a
place several hours away from Raleigh and that Kunstler
finds it difficult to write a closing argument for a jury he
has never seen or spoken to. Kunstler continues that
Hatcher had wanted to testify as to all he knew about
Robeson County but that since he had no attorney present
he hadn't been able to gain that privilege.
Kunstler says that he had been engaged in a trial in
New York since April which has forced his client,
Hatcher, to have to sit alone at the defense table.
Kunstler has been able to only make a limited
contribution from afar, Hatcher reads, but he is going to
try to create a closing argument for Hatcher even though
he knows it can't be the type of summation Kunstler
could have given if he had been present for the trial.
Yet Kunstler has written a thorough closing argument
which reiterates many of the themes presented by Jacobs'
defense team during its closing argument. Hie
government has a high burden of proof; there was no
criminal intent in the actions of Hatcher and Jacobs; their
lives were endangered because of their knowledge of drug
dealing and their attempts to do something about it; and
they made no direct demands on the U.S. government
Kunstler also writes that Hatcher had never before
used violence or a gun but that he hcd been a caring and
concerned person who had attended to aged grandmoth
ers;
Hatcher finishes the prepared statement and looks-up
at the jury: "I never denied doing it (the takeover of the
Robesonian). I never pointed my gun and never told
people I wanted to hurt them...There's not any evidence
to show I had a bad, malicious intent..I was trying to save
my life under exceptional circumstances: conditions of
discrimination, injustice, corruption, violence, fear."
He mentions that the prosecutor said earlier in his
closing argument that the constitution allowed for
peaceful protest Sounding tearful. Hatcher asks the juiy,
"When you go to those sworn to uphold the constitution
and they won't do anything, what do you do?"
The tears begin in the courtroom among the spectators.
At the defense table of Jacobs, the lawyers of the Christie
Institute seem to hang on every word, the emotion
building. Hmmy Jacobs is sitting straight, serious,
listening to the words of his friend.
Hatcher says the Reverend Jesse Jackson has talked
about the people who have been abandoned by the law.
"Can you imagine 60,000 frightened, hurt, rejected,
abandoned people ciying out?" He is on the verge of
tears and at least one juror, a Black woman, also looks
ready to weep.
"From 150 miles away, they're ciying out Some are
faint, they're tired, the/re wore out Please don't
abandon me and Timmy."
He softly says thank you, with his head partially
lowered and turns away, to walk back to his solitary seat
Hie one Black juror turns her head slightly to her left and
the matronly White woman next to her responds by
turning towards her until their eyes meet and they break
into slight smiles, briefly touch hands, and nod in unison.'
Hie sudden gut feeling is that Hatcher has just won.
Hie prosecutor seems to realize the impact Hatcher has
just had on the juiy. In his rebuttal to the closing
arguments of the defense, he implores them not to base
their verdict on sympathy. But it too late: the juiy
suddenly looks cold and impersonal, and they shift in
their seats farther away from the prosecutor.
Even the Judge, who had been sitting up
attentively during Hatcher's final moments, reclines in
his leathe * chair until all you can see of him is his head.
As he yawns, you get the sense he is tired and bored bf
the entire mess and wants to wash his hands of it as
expediently as possible.
And the following day, October 14,1988, the judge and
juiy washed their hands of the affair when the juiy
acquitted Hatcher and Jacobs of all charges.
From the quiet decorum of the courtroom, the not guilty
verdict unleashed a torrent of emotions. Inside the
courtroom, there was ciying and rejoicing mingled with
exclamations of thanks to the Almighty. Outside the i
courtroom the verdict surprised and shocked Robeson ]
County Hhe the killer toromado which hit in '84.
In lumberton, the staff \of the Robesonian expressed <
outrage and bitterness. They had experienced terror and <
strongly renounced the verdict which freed thoee wbo had I
held them hostage with sawed-off shotguns on fbb. 1. <
Where is justice, they cried, for us to experience shear j
terror and for Hatcher and Jacobs to go free, not even
convicted for sawing-off a shotgun?
In Pembroke, the mood was different While many
people were relieved at the verdict and thought it fair,
there was a saddness that the trial had not produced the
evidence of rampant corruption which had been hoped.
There was also a fear of redneck reactionary rage.
Some people in Pembroke were outraged by the verdict
and thought Hatcher and Jacobs should have at least done
time for the sawed-off shotguns. "There's the evidence,
right there on tv.," the fellow said Friday night, "they're
right there on t.v. with sawed-off shotguns. How could
the jury possibly not convict them?"
Some news analyses and editorials have argued that it
was sympathy in part because Hatcher's attorney was
absent One has argued it is because of a "Rambo"
mentality in our soecity which tolerates and even
encourages the taking-of-the-law-in-yourown- hands.
While there may be some truth in those positions, we
believe there is a greater sympathy which accounts for the
verdicts.
The jury decided that there had been no criminal intent
by Hatcher and Jacobs in taking-over ihe Robesonian. If
there was no criminal intent what kind of intent could
there have l*een? The desire to gain publicity by violent
means? No, the jury reasoned otherwise.
Even though the Judge had not allowed the Necessity
of Defense argument to be used by defense lawyers, the
jury believed Hatcher and Jacobs had experienced a
terror greater than that experienced by the staff of the
Robesonian.
The defense presented three witnesses who testified
they had seen Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stone circling
Hatcher's apartment. There was testimony that Sheriff
Stone had a warrant for Hatcher's arrest and that Hatcher
feared for his safety in the Robeson County jail. Just days
before, a local newspaper had reported a Black inmate,
Billy McKellar, died in jail, begging for asthma
medication.
Hatcher testified that he feared for the safety of John
David Hunt, a former SBI informant who was in jail, and
had given Hatcher maps and information purporting to
link Sheriff Stone with majdrtfope dealers.
Hatcher and Jacobs testified they feared for their lives
because of this knowledge. But they also claimed they
tried to pass along the information but were unable to find
anyone to help them. Hatcher wrote a letter to Stone
threatening to reveal the information to the media if Hunt
was hurt In court Hatcher testified the response from
Stone he received was, "So, Eddie Hatcher wants to play
extortion?"
but the government did not cat] to the stand Sheriff
Stone or his son, Kevin. Hie government did not present
any rebuttal witnesses to disprove Hatcher and Jacobs'
claims of danger and terror.
If you are a juror and hear testimony that two young,
men took-over a newspaper out of fear for losing their
lives at the hands of an allegedly corrupt and violent
Sheriff and then the government does not even present
the testimony of the Sheriff to deny the allegations, what
would you think? Would you think it was, or why else
wouldn't the prosecution bother to deny the claims?
Apparently that jury in Raleigh thought so.
And then you might start thinking that's the real reason
the government doesn't want to give defense attorneys
any information regarding drug trafficking and corruption
in Robeson County. You start doubting the government's
argument that the information is immaterial because
Hatcher and Jacobs can never prove it was necessary to
take hostages the staff of the Robesonian. What you start
thinking, is that all the talk about Robeson County is true
or else the government would be debunking it
left-and-right. But the government is not contradicting
the talk. Indeed, the prosecutor said during his closing
argument, "...there are serious problems in Robeson
County that need to be addressed..."
But the evidence presented by the defense is that no
one, at least on the governmental level, has ever really
seriously addressed the problems in Robeson County. Hie
Community Relations Services of the U.S. Justice
Department had been here for twenty years but what have
they done but gather information and shared it with the
FBI?
So, the jury concluded, Hatcher and Jacobs did not
take-over the Robesonian as a violent protest. .Instead,
they apparently believed Hatcher and Jacobs acted to
save their own lives in the face of a greater terror which
had been allowed to flourish as the government
floundered.
Unfortunately, the whole story wasn't told about
corruption in Robeson County and its relationship to the
hypocritical drug policies of the federal government which
encourages people to "just say no" to drugs while cutting
backroom deals with dictators like Noriega. But did the
government really want that story told in a federal
courtroom?
Did the government want the public to know it has
allowed drugs to enter this country when it was in the
interests of "national security?" Did it want the public to
know that most drugs end up in iqjnority communities,
destroying young brown and blade lives while bankers
and Contra loaders reap the profits? Did the government
want Robeson County to be beM up as an example of the
rampant corruption produced by the government's
policies? Of course not
So we are left to beleive that the government was
willing to sacrifice its ease against Hatcher and Jacoba in
Dtder to prevent sacrificing its knowledge of and its
involvement in Robeson County. Ibis, of course, leaves
us wondering as we were before Fbb. 1: What ia the truth
In Robeson County and what are we going to do about It
COMMUNITY CALENDA R
PLATE SALE PLANNED
Cherokee Chapel Methodist Chureh, Wakulla. NC
will hold Ma annual chicken and barbecue plate aale on
Saturday, October 22, begin ninf at 11 am. and lasting
until...
Cooae out and unjoy lunch and dinner aa we! aa the
#,li at
TfMiowwnip.
Dee. Julian Ransom is pastor. I
YARD SALE
A yard teio wiQ bo Md at Moon's Chain Sow
(Proopoet community) on Saturday. Octobor IS. from ?
s.m. until 1 p.m. Cloths* and othor mtsnBonooos items
will bo on solo.
Coll
521-2826
To Subocrlbo
4 ???? - . iM